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Wales national football team
Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage
Nov 19, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
Hungary national football team

2-0

Ramsey (15', 47')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Ryan Giggs hails 'greatest night of his life' as Wales qualify for Euro 2020

Ryan Giggs hails 'greatest night of his life' as Wales qualify for Euro 2020
© Reuters
The Wales manager was elated after his team booked their Euro 2020 place.

Wales boss Ryan Giggs has described his team's Euro 2020 qualification as "one of the greatest nights of my life".

Giggs looked on as his players clinched a place at next summer's showpiece thanks to Aaron Ramsey's double in a 2-0 victory over Hungary at Cardiff City Stadium.

Wales had to win in their quest for an automatic Euro 2020 place, and they duly delivered, backing up their achievement in reaching – and then excelling – at Euro 2016.

Aaron Ramsey's double delivered Wales to glory
Aaron Ramsey's double delivered Wales to glory (Nick Potts/PA)

Giggs followed his predecessor Chris Coleman in guiding Wales to a major championship, and he was understandably elated.

"It is a special, special night," Giggs said.

"The lads have showed great determination and quality and a never-give-up attitude. They deserve all the plaudits. There was no room for error, and the quality and concentration they have shown, they deserve it.

"It is one of the greatest nights of my life. Simple as that.

"I achieved a lot as a player, but it's different as a manager, the pressure you are under and you are helpless as a manager.

"I was never nervous as a player, but as a manager you are. Come game day, it is out of your hands."

Giggs paid tribute to Ramsey, who scored his first Wales goals since September last year – a first-half header followed by a calm close-range finish early in the second period.

"We have missed him," Giggs added. "We have some very good players, but they don't grow on trees – players who make the difference.

"Aaron tonight was the difference. I am really pleased for him."

Giggs was asked if he had won over sceptics, and he said: "I hope so. I'm struggling if it hasn't!

Giggs acknowledges the fans after the final whistle
Giggs acknowledges the fans after the final whistle (Nick Potts/PA)

"I asked the players who have been there and done it to climb that mountain again. A lot is made of the younger players, but you can't do it without the older players too.

"Wayne (Hennessey's) double save, Gareth (Bale) putting his body on the line, and it's not easy leaving out Ash (Ashley Williams) who is perhaps the greatest captain Wales have ever had.

"I set out to quality for a major championship, but more than that, to leave Welsh football in a better state than when I took over.

"This is just the beginning. We have seen a lot of young players over the last 18 months, and they can get better – they can definitely get better.

"It probably hasn't sunk in yet. The players can get better with the help of the more experienced lads who aren't over the hill by any stretch of the imagination.

Wales celebrate their achievement
Wales celebrate their achievement (Nick Potts/PA)

"I didn't think it was a fantastic performance. We showed grit and determination, but our quality on the ball can, and needs to be, better with the quality we possess.

"As a player, you want to play in major championships. My first memory of a major championship was 1982 (World Cup). It's different as a manager.

"This is different. It feels amazing – the group of players I have got and my staff.

"I am a relatively young coach, and I could not have done it without my staff. Together we did it.

"As a player, basically you look after yourself. You are quite selfish, you are. As a manager you have to manage everything, so it's a completely different kettle of fish.

"I didn't think about my playing career, it was all about getting Wales to another championship, as a manager."

Hungary now go into the play-offs for a place at Euro 2020 after seeing their hopes of automatic qualification end.

"We made too many mistakes," Hungary coach Marco Rossi said.

"The first goal was a big mistake. Wales absolutely deserved to win. They showed class.

"The guys tried to fight, but at this level it is not enough. "We are a double-faced team in terms of playing at home and away. It is difficult to explain. We have problems playing away."

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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain870121
Q Scotland flag Scotland852117
3 Norway Norway832311
4 Georgia Georgia82248
5 Cyprus Cyprus80080

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France871022
Q Netherlands Netherlands860218
3 Greece Greece841313
4 Ireland Rep. Ireland82066
5 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar80080

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England862020
Q Italy Italy842214
3 Ukraine Ukraine842214
4 Macedonia N. Macedonia82248
5 Malta flag Malta80080

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Turkey Turkey852117
Q Croatia Croatia851216
3 Wales flag Wales833212
4 Armenia Armenia82248
5 Latvia Latvia81073

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Albania national flag Albania843115
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic843115
3 Poland Poland832311
4 Republic of Moldova Moldova824210
5 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands80262

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Belgium Belgium862020
Q Austria Austria861119
3 Sweden Sweden831410
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan82157
5 Estonia Estonia80171

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Hungary Hungary853018
Q Serbia Serbia842214
3 Montenegro Montenegro832311
4 Lithuania Lithuania81346
5 Bulgaria Bulgaria80444

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Denmark Denmark1071222
Q Slovenia Slovenia1071222
3 Finland Finland1060418
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan1060418
5 Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland103079
6 San Marino flag San Marino1000100

Group I

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania1064022
Q Switzerland Switzerland1045117
3 Israel Israel1043315
4 Belarus Belarus1033412
5 Kosovo flag Kosovo1025311
6 Andorra flag Andorra100282

Group J

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal10100030
Q Slovakia Slovakia1071222
3 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg1052317
4 Iceland Iceland1031610
5 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina103079
6 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein1000100


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